13 lose jobs as firm shuts

PUBLISHED: 18:17 12 September 2008 | UPDATED: 13:34 06 May 2010

A FIRM which has been operating in St Albans for more than 40 years has closed its doors making 13 employees redundant. Plastic Development Techniques Limited of Lyon Way was set up by toolmaker Bryan Buckingham when he was aged 26. Now aged 70, Mr Buckin

A FIRM which has been operating in St Albans for more than 40 years has closed its doors making 13 employees redundant.

Plastic Development Techniques Limited of Lyon Way was set up by toolmaker Bryan Buckingham when he was aged 26.

Now aged 70, Mr Buckingham has suffered a heart operation and is in poor health. He said: "It was all getting too much for me and my son Miles did not want to take over the business."

He sold out to a firm called Serco which intends to keep his West Midlands plant open but did not want the St Albans end of the business.

He said: "It's very sad for all of us but I just did not feel able to compete with the high business rates and cost of machinery. I've tried to do my best by my employees but some of them are upset because we were like a family here.